Removable wall panel and separate cabinet simulating fireplace and flue therefor



L. J. FIGURSKI Nov. 9, 1965 3,216,774 REMOVABLE WALL PANEL AND SEPARATE CABINET SIMULATING FIREPLACE AND FLUE THEREFOR Filed April 1, 1964 MN mm M H rm T U f m 2 F m M m w G J T 4 T F a 2 m 4/ 7 5 a D WI'A F 8 V M 3 N MW 6 w w A a L 7 97 9% 5 6 W 2 a \l\l\\l\|\)\lll\\l\llll\|l\ 9 I 5 5 /M 6% 1 a 3 j F Mvy% .f 2

u a. 5 M 6 Ma 4 k F OI Q t United States Patent REMOVABLE WALL PANEL AND SEPARATE CAB- INET SIMULATING FIREPLACE AND FLUE THEREFOR Leonard Joseph Figurski, 2040 Jefferson St., San Francisco, Calif. File'd Apr. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 356,500 2 Claims. (Cl. 312204) This invention relates to room furniture and has for one of its objects the provision of a three dimensional fireplace facade, that includes a fireplace portion and a flue portion therefor that may be readily installed in a room, without altering any portion of the latter, and removed therefrom, and fireplace portion and flue portion are separable from each other, but cooperate, when together, to both enable a flue portion of one height to properly extend from the fireplace portion to substantially the ceiling in rooms having different ceiling heights, without visual evidence of any gaps or the like, and to hold the flue portion in proper relation to the fireplace portion.

The'use of the words fireplace facade relates to the entire assembly that includes the flue portion that, in an operative fireplace, extends from the fireplace to the ceiling, or substantially to the latter, and 'by defining the fireside facade as being three dimensional, it is intended to distinguish from a mere planar panel, since in the-present invention the fireplace and flue portion simulate a fireplace and flue therefor to anyone in the room, but they are inoperative, since they actually are neither a fireplace nor a flue.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a vertical thin, flat, housing having a rear open side, which housing is adapted to be suspended from its upper end against the side wall of a room with the open side facing said wall, and which housing is adapted to completely cover a door with the knob and any other projecting fittings received within said housing to completely conceal them. The housing simulates the flue of a fireplace, and a cabinet having a rear open side, is adapted to fit against the lower portion of said housing and against said side wall, and simulates the fireplace portion of said flue, and is supported for movement away from said lower portion of the housing to enable access to the interior of the cabinet through its open rear side.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a veritcal panel that simulates the flue of a fireplace, and which panel is adapted to extend downwardly from the ceiling of a room against one side wall of said room, and means is provided for releasably holding said panel against said side wall with its upper end substantially against the ceiling molding that is at the juncture between said side wall and said ceiling, or substantially against the ceiling itself. I

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fireplace facade that includes a flue portion and a fireplace portion respectively simulating a flue and fireplace connected therewith, and which facade is adapted to be removably held over an objectionable door, crack or other blemish on the side wall of a room to completely conceal such door, crack or blemish, without requiring any alteration in the sidewall, and which fireplace facade appears to be an integral part of a room wall.

A still further object of the invention is the Provision of a fireplace facade that includes a cabinet simulating a fireplace, and which cabinet is formed to provide a fireplace in which a conventional imitation log on andirons may be positioned to further simulate an actual fireplace, the rear of said cabinet being the portion facing the wall with the fireplace openinginto the room.

An additional object of the invention is the provision 3,216,774 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 of a fireplace facade that includes a three dimensional fireplace portion simulating a fireplace and a three dimensional flue portion simulating the flue for the fireplace, and which fireplace and flue portions are adapted to be removably positioned against a side wall of a room, and can be moved from one portion of the room to another, and from one position along one side wall to another position along said side wall or to different positions along any of the other side walls of a room without modifying :any side wall, and which flue portion is a unit separate from the fireplace portion, but cooperates therewith to extend to different heights upwardly from the fireplace portion without leaving a gap or in any way modifying or changing the appearance of the fireplace portion relative to the flue portion so one fireplace facade will fit rooms having different ceiling heights.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and drawings.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fireplace facade of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of the upper portion of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged modified sectional view of the portion shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a panel adapted to be used Under the fireplace portion to releasably hold the fireplace portion in place.

In detail, one side wall of the room against which the simulated fireplace and flue (fireplace facade) are positioned is designated 1. The ceiling of the room is at 2 (FIG. 3) and a conventional ceiling molding strip is at 3.

The present invention, or fireplace facade, comprises a flue portion'generally designated 4 which, as shown in FIG. 1, may be a vertically elongated rectangular panel 5. The front surface of the panel 5 may simulate brick or stone, or it may be plain and of any color, or it may have any surface pattern, or texture. However, in its relation to the fireplace portion, generally designated 6, the flue portion constitutes, in appearance, an upward extension or continuation of the fireplace portion. While the flue portion has been described as being rectangular, it may have any desired outline.

Flue portion 4 comprises said panel 5, which panel is provided with a rearwardly projecting flange 7 along each of its lateral or side edges thereof, and a flange 8 is along its upper edge (FIGS. 34). Said side flanges 7 preferably extend the full length of each side edge of panel 5 and flange '8 extends the full length of the top edge.

In the specification the words rear and rearwardly, forward and forwardly and words of similar meaning, are used with reference to the surface of the fireplace facade that faces directly away from the side wall. Thus the flanges extend 'rearwardly relative to said surface and toward said side wall.

The fireplace portion 6 is of inverted U-shape providing a pair of vertical legs 9, 10 secured on a base 11 that provides a floor for the fireplace recess and a ledge projecting forwardly of the legs. Flanges 12 project downwardly from the side and front edges of base 11. A horizontal portion 13 connects the upperends of the legs. An electrical outlet 13' (FIG. 2) may also be on base 11 for making an electrical connection with the fireplace log, and also the base supports the andirons and log and other accessories. Said fireplace portion 6 is hollow, having a front Wall 14 that simulates, in appearance, the front surface of a fireplace. Each of the legs has lateral, vertical, spaced opposed side walls 15, 16 of which the walls form the opposed lateral sides of the fireplace recess, while the Walls 16 form the oppositely outwardly facing walls of the pair of legs 9, 10.

The upper side of the fireplace reces is for-med by a horizontal shelf 17 (FIG. 3) extending between end walls 16 and over the upper edges of walls 15. A horizontal upper wall 18 provides the mantle portion of the fireplace and extends over the upper edges of the end walls 16 and front wall 14.

The depth of the two end walls 16 is greater than the depth of the horizontal walls 17, 18 by a distance equal to the depth of the flue portion 4.

A vertical rear Wall 19 extends across the rear side of the fireplace recess and over the rear edges of the walls 15, and terminates along said edges. The forward face of this vertical rear wall 19 may simulate brick, stone, or other fireplace material, and the surface and oppositely outwardly facing surfaces of the pair of end walls 16 may also simulate brick, stone or other fireplace material.

The space above shelf 17 is rearwardly open, as is the space within legs 9, 10, and one or more horizontal shelves 20 may be provided in each leg 9, 10, which shelves 20 may be approximately the same depth as that of shelf 17.

The end walls 16 project rearwardly of top wall 18, as at 21 (FIG. 2), a distance equal to the depth of the flue portion 4.

The bottom wall 11 (FIG. 3) is secured within the lower end of each leg 9, 10, which wall may have a depth equal to the depth of shelves 17, 20 and top 18 and rollers 24 secured to each bottom wall 11 support the fireplace portion for rolling on the floor to different positions.

The horizontal width of the flue portion 4 and the spacing between the rearward extensions 21 of end walls 16 of the fireplace portion are substantially the same, hence when the flue portion i vertical, with its flanges 7, 8 against side wall 1 of a room, the fireplace portion may be rolled against the lower portions of the flue portion and the latter will fit between said extensions 21.

The flue portion 4 may extend to the molding 3 (FIG. 3) or in some instances (FIG. 5) it is desirable that it extend to the ceiling.

Where it extends either to the molding or to the ceiling, and particularly in the latter instance, there should be no substantial crack or space between the upper flange 8 and the molding or the ceiling, as the case may be.

It should here be noted that the flue panel is relatively light in weight, or approximately 20 pounds, hence it doe not require massive supports for holding it freely suspended from its upper end.

In installing the flue portion, 1 provide a pair of permanent bar magnets 25 that may be horizontally elongated, and these are rigidly secured to the side wall 1 spaced below molding 3 a distance substantially equal to the vertical thickness of the top flange 8. Magnets 25 are horizontally aligned and spaced from each other so as to be received approximately in the upper corners of the rearwardly opening housing formed by the panel 5 and flanges 7, 8. Screws 26 (FIG. 4) or any other suitable means may secure the magnets 25 to the side wall I.

Secured by screws or by any other suitable means against the rear side of panel 5 in the upper corners formed by flanges 7, 8 are magnetic armature plates 27.

To hang the flue portion 4, it is merely necessary to slip the top flange between the molding 3 and the magnets 25 (FIG. 5) and the armatures 27 will be magnetically attracted to the magnets, drawing the flanges 7, 8 closely against the surface of side wall 1.

The dimensions are preferably such that, when the flanges 7, 8 are drawn against said side wall, the armatures 27 will be in engagement with the magnets. Thus the flue portion will be suspended from the magnets and the magnets will releasably hold the upper flange 8 of the flue portion 4 against the wall 1. The fireplace portion 6, on the other hand, will ensure holding the lower end of the flue portion against the side wall 1, although the flue portion will not fall from the magnets when the fireplace portion is moved away from the flue portion to gain access to objects supported on the shelves 17, 20 and on the bottom wall 23. The fireplace portion may thus be used as a bar or buflfet cabinet when moved away from the flue panel, with the latter forming a decorative background, and it will also provide storage for bar supplies or for any desired objects when moved back into place against the lower part of the flue portion.

The employment of magnetic means, as described, for suspending the flue portion precludes the leaving of an undesirable crack between the upper end of the flue portion and the molding, such as would exist were hooks used to suspend the flue portion. In the case of hooks, the flue portion must be lifted over the hooks and then lowered, which would leave a crack, and in any event for an operator to attempt to engage eyes on the upper end of the flue portion with books at the ceiling would be a diflicult feat considering the size of the panel and the distance to the ceiling or molding, and the flue would not be held firmly against the side wall, and an undesirable crack would appear when the flue portion was released to be suspended from the hooks. With the magnets, small adjustments of the flue portion horizontally along the wall, is easy.

It is, of course, obvious in the case of the present invention, that a single horizontally elongated bar magnet of suflicient strength could be used at a point intermediate the side flanges 7, in which case the flue portion might be shifted laterally a substantial distance and still be adequately suspended. Such bar magnets are conventional being of horseshoe cross sectional contour transversely of their length, as shown.

In FIG. 5 the flue portion extends to the ceiling. The side flanges 28 correspond to side flanges 7, except they are cut away at their upper rear edges to conform to the contour of molding 3, and magnets 29 are secured to the molding a distance spaced below ceiling 2 approximately equal to the thickness of upper flange 30 that, in turn, corresponds to flange 8, except that it is of a depth less than the depth of flange 8 by an amount equal to the thickness of the molding 3. The magnet itself may be of a depth less than that of magnet 25 by the thickness of the molding 3. Armature plates 31 are secured to panel 5 in the same manner as described for the structure of FIGS. 3, 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a floor panel 33 adapted to be used as part of the combination for releasably holding the fireplace portion against accidental movement along wall 1 in either of two opposite directions and it also functions to provide guide means for accurately guiding the fireplace portion against the lower portion of the panel 5 or flue portion 4, after the fireplace portion has been moved away, or at the same time of the initial installation.

The floor panel 33 is oblong and is preferably fully within the confines of the downwardly projected outline of the fireplace portion when in position below said portion.

The panel 33 is formed with a pair of parallel slots 34 extending from the forward edge 35 of the panel when the latter is horizontal on the floor. The width of the slots is approximately that of the horizontal dimension of the rollers so the rollers below opposite ends of the fire place portion may roll in the slots substantially to their closed ends 36.

When the fireplace portion is away from the wall 1, the panel 33 may be placed on the floor in a position that is symmetrical relative to the flue portion, with the closed ends 36 of the slots adjacent to wall 1.

After the panel 33 is in said position, the fireplace portion will be rolled toward the wall, and until the rollers enter the forward open ends of the slots, the fireplace portion will not be in the correct position. When the rollers enter the slots of the fireplace portion, continued movement of the fireplace .portion in the same direction will result in the fireplace portion being accurately against the Wall relative to the flue portion. Thus there will be no need to move the fireplace portion parallel with the wall, nor can it 'be so moved, hence the wall will not be marred by such movement.

Where the room has a baseboard, the edges of the end walls 16 adjacent to their lower ends may be notched out so that said edges at said lower ends will conform to the cross sectional contour of the baseboard in the same mannor as the upper rear edges of the flue portion are notched out, as in FIG. 5. If there is a base mold and base shoe, as well as a baseboard, or if other molding is used adjoining the ceiling, the flanges 7, 8 or walls 16 on the fireplace portion may be cut out to fit their contours.

It is important to note that in all forms of the invention, a single sized flue portion is adapted to extend from the ceiling to a position behind the fireplace portion, irrespective of difierences of several feet in the height of the ceilings. The height of the fireplace portion from the floor to the top 18 may be approximately three to four feet, as an example, and where the ceiling is approximately a nine foot ceiling, and the length of the fireplace portion is approximately four feet between the opposed surfaces of the rearward projections 21 of end walls 16, the panel 5 may be a standard 4' x 8' panel. Such a panel would project downwardly behind the fireplace portion to a point spaced above the bottom wall 23. Hence the ceiling could be several feet higher and the lower end of the flue portion would still be fully concealed behind the fireplace portion when the flue portion were extended upwardly to the ceiling, or if the ceiling were lower, the flue portion could be lowered relative to the fireplace portion until it touched the floor, without any change in the outward appearance of the flue portion and fireplace portion where the flue portion is in lapping relation to the fireplace portion.

It is immaterial whether wall 1 is of plastic, wood, wallboard, brick or of any other conventional wall material, since it may be any of these materials.

FIG. 3 shows the flue portion 4 positioned over a door having a projecting knob 37 and also over the door trim or casing. Inasmuch as a normal door and the door facing are then four feet in width, it is seen that the fireplace flue forms a housing into the open rear side of which the knob and door frame are received.

Obviously, the fireplace portion and the flue portion may be wider or narrower, as desired. The dimensions above noted merely illustrate the adaptability of the present design to normal conditions in which a standard panel size for panel 5 may be used.

It is to be understood that the specific embodiments of the invention disclosed in the specification and drawings are intended as merely illustrative of several forms of the invention, the scope of the invention being delineated in the appended claims. Many modifications and variations of the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A fireplace facade adapted to be positioned against a vertical wall to simulate a fireplace and a flue therefor, comprising:

(a) a flue portion including a vertical panel simulating (b) a fireplace portion separable from said flue portion simulating said fireplace;

(c) means supporting said fireplace portion for movement over the floor of a room to and from a position against said wall, and against the lower part of said panel when the latter is adjacent to said wall in opposed relation thereto with its upper end adjacent to the upper end of said Wall and said panel being of sufficient length vertically to extend from said upper 6 end of said wall to a point below the upper level of 7 said fireplace portion;

'(d) means adjacent to the upper end of said flue .por-

tion for suspending it from said wall; 7

(e) said fireplace portion comprising a pair of generally vertically extending, horizontally spaced hollow legs and a hollow horizontally extending upper end portion integral with and extending across the upper ends 'of said le'gs cooperatively related to simulate the opposite lateral sides of the upper side of a fireplace recess;

-(-f) the horizontal length of said fireplace portion being substantially equal to the width of said panel for extending across the lower part of the latter when said fireplace portion is in engagement with the latter and against said wall;

(g) a vertical rear wall integral with said fireplace portion extending between said legs from the upper to the lower ends thereof at the side of the latter that is adjacent to said panel when said fireplace portion is against said panel whereby the lower part of said panel and said wall will be concealed from a person looking into said fireplace recess from the front side of said fireplace portion that is opposite to said panel;

(h) means for releasably holding said fireplace portion in position against said wall and panel;

(i) means respectively on said panel and on said fireplace portion in releasable engagement with each other when said panel and said fireplace portion are together against movement of the lower portion of said panel relative to the other in the direction of the plane thereof, and

(j) said flue portion being free from said fireplace portion for vertical movement of said flue portion relative to said fireplace portion to enable said flue portion to extend from said fireplace portion to ceilings of different height while the lower portion of said panel is in laterally lapping relation to said fireplace portion.

2. A fireplace facade adapted to be positioned against a vertical wall to simulate a fireplace and a flue therefor, comprising:

(a) a flue portion including a vertical panel simulating (b) a fireplace. portion separable from said flue portion simulating said fireplace;

(0) means supporting said fireplace portion for movement over the floor of a room to and from a position against said wall, and against the lower part of said panel when the latter is adjacent to said wall in opposed relation thereto with its upper end adjacent to the upper end of said wall and said panel being of suflicient length vertically to extend from said upper end of said wall to a point below the upper level of said fireplace portion;

(d) means adjacent to the upper end of said flue portion for suspending it from said wall;

(e) said fireplace portion comprising a pair of generally vertically extending, horizontally spaced hollow legs and a hollow horizontally extending upper end portion integral with and extending across the upper end of said legs cooperatively related to simulate the opposite lateral sides and the upper side of a fireplace recess;

(f) the horizontal length of said fireplace portion being substantially equal to the width of said panel for extending across the lower part of the latter when said fireplace portion is in engagement with the latter and against said wall;

(g) a vertical rear wall integral with said fireplace portion extending between said legs from the upper to the lower ends thereof at the side of the latter that is adjacent to said panel when said fireplace portion is against said panel whereby the lower part of said panel and said wall will be concealed from a person looking into said fireplace recess from the front side of said fireplace portion that is oppositeto said panel;

(h) said means supporting said fireplace portion for movement over the floor comprising a pair'of rollers respectively under each of said legs supporting said legs and fireplace portion spaced above said floor;

(i) a floor plate on said fioor in a position-extending between the lower ends of said legsand forming the lower side of said fireplace recess and removable from said fireplace portion, and p (j) means on said floor plate in engagement with said rollers for preventing rotation thereof for movement of said fireplace portion away from said panel and wall when said fioor plate is in its said position forming the lower side of said fireplace recess.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Wise 248206 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

1. A FIREPLACE FACADE ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED AGAINST A VERTICAL WALL TO SIMULATE A FIREPLACE AND A FLUE THEREFOR, COMPRISING: (A) A FLUE PORTION INCLUDING A VERTICAL PANEL SIMULATING SAID FLUE; (B) A FIREPLACE PORTION SEPARABLE FROM SAID FLUE PORTION SIMULATING SAID FIREPLACE; (C) MEANS SUPPORTING SAID FIREPLACE PORTION FOR MOVEMENT OVER THE FLOOR OF A ROOM TO AND FROM A POSITION AGAINST SAID WALL, AND AGAINST THE THE LOWER PART OF SAID PANEL WHEN THE LATTER IS ADJACENT TO SAID WALL IN OPPOSED RELATION THERETO WITH ITS UPPER END ADJACENT TO THE UPPER END OF SAID WALL AND SAID PANEL BEING OF SUFFICIENT LENGTH VERTICALLY TO EXTEND FROM SAID UPPER END OF SAID WALL TO A POINT BELOW THE UPPER LEVEL OF SAID FIREPLACE PORTION; (D) MEANS ADJACENT TO THE UPPER END OF SAID FLUE PORTION FOR SUSPENDING IT FROM SAID WALL; (E) SAID FIREPLACE PORTION COMPRISING A PAIR OF GENERALLY VERTICALLY EXTENDING, HORIZONTALLY SPACED HOLLOW LEGS AND A HOLLOW HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING UPPER END PORTION INTEGRAL WITH AND EXTENDING ACROSS THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID LEGS COOPERATIVELY RELATED TO SIMULATE THE OPPOSITE LATERAL SIDES OF THE UPPER SIDE OF A FIREPLACE RECESS; (F) THE HORIZONTAL LENGTH OF SAID FIREPLACE PORTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE WIDTH OF SAID PANEL FOR EXTENDING ACROSS THE LOWER PART OF THE LATTER WHEN SAID FIREPLACE PORTION IS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LATTER AND AGAINST SAID WALL; 